Melbourne & Victoria


Melbourne

Name your passion and Melbourne can match it.

Discover Melbourne’s eclectic precincts and fringe suburbs and dive in to uncover little-known places for cheap, filling lunches; coffee worth boasting about; underground art; hidden dens and rooftop bars; green spaces; fancy places; and some good yarns along the way.

A packed agenda of food, wine, sports, shopping and arts is your introduction to the best of Melbourne – from its creative, exciting city centre, to its buzzing neighbourhood hubs. It’s the gateway to Victoria’s world-class wineries, natural springs, peninsulas, spectacular coastline and alpine villages.

The city is a visitor-friendly combination of bustling thoroughfares and fascinating lanes, no other Australian city has as many alluring arcades to explore.

Winding through the city is the Yarra River. A Melbourne icon, the river is the focus for numerous spectacular events including the famous Moomba festival, rowing regattas and the Melbourne Festival. Its Southbank district is lined with cafés and bars, while on the north side you’ll find the city’s creative heartland around Federation Square.

Further afield, the vibrant, trendy and culturally diverse suburbs such as Fitzroy, St Kilda and Prahran are easily accessible via the famous city tram and bus network.

Yarra Valley

Yarra Valley is home to Victoria’s wine industry and features over 70 vineyards including famous names like De Bortoli and Domaine Chandon. Sharing the rich soil are many farms and orchards giving the valley a real abundance of fresh, locally grown food for its many cellar door restaurants. It would be rude not to sample a drop of wine while here, spending the whole afternoon enjoying the gorgeous scenery and delicious cuisine to match.

Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula is said to be one of the jewel’s in Victoria’s crown and it combines the best of Europe’s coastal living with traditional Aussie charm. Explore the galleries, spas and cafés in breezy seaside villages, cool off with a day on the beach, or escape to the hinterland for gourmet delights at boutique wineries.

Grampians National Park

The Grampian National Park with rugged mountain scenery is renowned for unspoilt natural beauty and has great lookouts with stunning views, dazzling waterfalls, ancient Aboriginal rock art, colourful wildflower displays and abundant native wildlife.

Philip Island

At Phillip Island, check out the Grand Prix circuit which hosts an annual leg of the World Superbike Championship. Explore the shops in Cowes and perhaps have a meal overlooking the beach before heading to the Phillip Island Nature Park. Here you can view seals, dolphins, sharks, koalas, and most famously, penguins. Stay for the Penguin Parade at sunset to see thousands of Fairy Penguins waddle up the beach seeking refuge after a long day out fishing.

Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park. These stacks have been eroded away from the limestone cliffs by the churning surf. A walkway takes you to best points of view, or take an incredible helicopter ride over the beach to see the eight remaining stacks, as well as awesome coastal scenery.

Brighton Beach

Melbourne’s urban sprawl creeps its way around Port Phillip Bay and finishes a little after Frankston, which was itself once a beach resort, but has since been swallowed by the suburbs. Drive past St Kilda and you will find Brighton, well known for its collection of more than 80 colourful bathing boxes lining its beautiful beach scenery.